Frost/Nixon: The Original Watergate Interviews

Episode 1 of 1

Beginning in March 1977 for four weeks, over 28 grueling hours, British journalist Frost questioned Nixon on everything from Vietnam to China, from abuse of power to the final days, to create one of the great media events of the 20th century. The most tense and gripping sessions were on Watergate, with two entire days devoted to the subject. Never before - and never afterward - would Nixon confront the issue of Watergate, particularly in a forum where he had no advanced knowledge of the questions and no right even to see the edited program before it was broadcast. FROST/NIXON: The Original Watergate Interviews is the entire 1977 Watergate broadcast, from Frost's opening question - "Do you feel that you ever obstructed justice or were part of a conspiracy to obstruct justice?" - to Nixon's last public remarks on the scandal. A picture emerges of a White House under siege, of burglars and hush money, of Nixon close to tears, having to sacrifice his closest aides - culminating in the unprecedented sight of a U.S. President apologizing to his people. Sir David Frost introduces this special 35th anniversary broadcast, discussing the historical impact of the Nixon interview and sharing his reactions of their famous encounter. The original broadcast of the Watergate interviews on May 4, 1977, the first of four programs culled from the March interviews, drew the biggest ever worldwide audience for a news interview. Watched by more than 45 million Americans alone, the Frost/Nixon Watergate interview remains the largest TV audience for a political interview to this day. The interviews were such a phenomenon that they were developed by screenwriter Peter Morgan into a Tony Award-winning Broadway play and into an Oscar-nominated film directed by Ron Howard.

Previously Aired

Day
Time
Channel
8/7/2009
8:30 p.m.
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